This course will explore many aspects of effective materials development, from key principles to practicalities. By the end of the course, you will have gained experience in evaluating materials for a particular context, adapting them for a specific target group, and producing and receiving feedback on your own materials. In addition to exploring findings from second language acquisition, ensuring appropriate levels of challenge, and learning to select and exploit texts, practical matters such as writing teacher’s notes, visual design, and using web tools are also addressed.
" Really good, motivating and useful for my teaching. Thank you very much NILE people! "
Blanca
Is this course for you?
Teachers of English at all levels. Other subject teachers welcome
18 - 29 August
Homestay (half-board): £560
Residential (half-board): £672
Residential (self-catering): £560
More information
Course content
This course develops critical awareness of the theories of language acquisition and pedagogy applicable to materials development. You will look at different aspects of language learning materials, formulate and apply criteria for the evaluation and adaptation of them, and work both independently and in a team to produce different types of materials.
" I gained a lot of new ideas - more up to date teaching such as padlet, using video and resources so I have plenty to take away with me. "
Petra
" A great atmosphere at NILE and effort made in order to make everybody happy. "
Dolores
Timetable
This course consists of 50 hours of tuition, delivered between 09:00 and 15:30, Monday - Friday. You will also take part in cross-curricular workshops on a variety of topics, and each course includes a free evening and weekend programme of social and cultural activities and trips.
Further Information
Specific course content comes from feedback you and other participants give us through pre-course questionnaires, identifying your needs and priorities.
Time will be built into the course for reflection and for you to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to your classroom in your own professional contexts.
NILE offers various accommodation options, including homestay with carefully selected hosts and residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. NILE’s dedicated student welfare team can be reached 24 hours a day.
All NILE courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or the development of language awareness.
Course Leader
Jason’s work as a consultant and trainer for NILE focuses on CLIL and EME (English Medium Education). He has worked on a range of NILE projects in various countries, including Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Brazil. He also provides training in formative assessment and educational materials design. Recent work for NILE includes the British Council/NILE EME capacity building project in Uzbekistan. Between 2018 and 2023 he was the MAPDLE Programme Leader and remains a tutor on the programme.
Previously Jason worked at Utrecht University providing advice and training for bilingual schools throughout The Netherlands. He has also taught on the university's UTEACH Master's Programme for bilingual and international school teachers. Before that he worked for seven years as a teacher at a Dutch bilingual secondary school.
Available dates:
| Course dates | Location | Course length | |
| 18 August - 29 August 2025 | Norwich | 2 weeks | |
| 18 August - 29 August 2025 with Trinity CertPT | Norwich | 2 weeks |
